Great success for innovative junior research projects in Hannover: Out of seven approved proposals, four joint programmes of Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) and Hochschule Hannover (HsH) have been awarded funding within the scope of the Lower Saxony Doctoral Programme. The projects are led by LUH in collaboration with other higher education institutions (see list below). In addition, LUH researchers are involved in another doctoral programme led by University of Vechta.
The Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) will provide approximately seven million euros of funding for scholarships in seven new doctoral programmes at higher education institutions in Lower Saxony. The scholarships will be financed via "Niedersächsisches Vorab", an initiative of the Volkswagen Foundation. Overall, 31 proposals were submitted. In addition to collaborations between universities and other higher education institutions, this round of funding addresses doctoral programmes focusing on the digital transformation of society and science. The programme is designed to promote collaborative doctoral research in order to foster close partnerships between universities and universities of applied sciences. Following the approval, the programmes will now publish calls for proposals and select suitable projects.
Prof. Dr. Volker Epping, President of LUH, and Prof. Dr. Josef von Helden, President of HsH, were delighted about the success in this round of the Lower Saxony Doctoral Programme and thanked all participating researchers. "Due to a structured approach and outstanding support, these programmes provide an ideal framework for our junior researchers and will enable them to work on highly relevant social issues in an interdisciplinary environment", said Professor Epping. "This outcome illustrates that our high standards in teaching and research are recognised and acknowledged. We are looking forward to exciting research projects", said Professor von Helden.
Between October 2019 and September 2024, the following programmes based in Hannover will receive funding:
- Nanomaterials and Quantum Technology for Digital Transformation (hsn-digital); led by Leibniz University Hannover, in collaboration with Hochschule Hannover, 15 scholarships, funding amount: €900,000
- School for Additive Manufacturing (SAM), Sensors and Actuators through Additive Manufacturing of Graded Components; led by Leibniz University Hannover, in collaboration with Hochschule Hannover, TU Braunschweig, and Clausthal University of Technology, 15 scholarships, funding amount: €900,000
- lernMINT - Teaching STEM Subjects Backed up by Data; led by Leibniz University Hannover, in collaboration with Hochschule Hannover and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, 15 scholarships, funding amount: €900,000
- Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Digital Societies; led by Leibniz University Hannover, in collaboration with Hochschule Hannover and TU Braunschweig, 14 scholarships, funding amount: €846,000
In addition, LUH is involved in the following programme:
- Digital Worlds in Villages - Responsibility and Management of the Digital Transformation; led by University of Vechta, in collaboration with Leibniz University Hannover and University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim, Holzminden, Göttingen, 14 scholarships, funding amount: €781,200
Within the scope of the programmes, doctoral candidates will receive basic funding amounting to 1,500 euros per month over a period of three years. Additional funding is available for applicants with children, as well as for periods abroad and childcare.
A complete list of funded doctoral programmes can be found at https://www.mwk.niedersachsen.de/startseite/forschung/forschungsforderung/ausschreibungen_programme_forderungen/niedersaechsisches-promotionsprogramm-118874.html
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